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Joffrey was vain, arrogant, barely-educated, ignorant in many key areas and believed that force was the answer to every problem. He was altogether ignorant of the niceties and subtleties of politics. He could be polite and correct in behavior when necessary, but generally only when cajoled into doing so by his family. As he grew older, his behavior became more and more erratic, a fact noticed by many around him, including his grandfather and Hand, Tywin, who several times had to rebuke his grandson's behavior in public.

In appearance, Joffrey was tall for his age. He was not especially skilled at combat, despite much practice. Whilst handsome, he often adopted a sneering expression which rendered him less attractive.

Joffrey was born to Queen Cersei Lannister and presented to the world as the son of King Robert Baratheon. In truth, Joffrey was conceived from an incestuous relationship between Queen Cersei and her brother, Ser Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer.

Joffrey grew up as a spoiled and indulged child, doted on by his mother. Despite this, Joffrey came to idolise Robert, vowing to become as great a warrior.

Despite this desire to emulate Robert, Joffrey had a cruel streak within him. After learning a castle cat was pregnant, he killed the animal and cut open its belly to investigate further. Proud of his discovery, he brought his findings to Robert who then beat him bloody. Afterwards he had little to do with Joffrey, and Joffrey grew up further sheltered and indulged by his mother, who assigned Sandor Clegane, 'the Hound', to him as a bodyguard and sworn sword.

Joffrey rides to Winterfell with his father and mother. He attends the celebratory feast held in the Great Hall of Winterfell. He is escorted in by Sansa Stark. Jon Snow dislikes him for his bored expression. In the Winterfell courtyard he mocks both Ser Rodrik Cassel and Robb Stark, saying that they should fight with pointed steel.

Four days after the fall of Bran Stark, Joffrey and Sandor are stood outside the Library Tower of Winterfell. Joffrey is told by his uncle, Tyrion Lannister, that he must visit Lord Eddard Stark and Lady Catelyn Tully to give them his thoughts. When Joffrey denies this at first, Tyrion slaps him across the face twice.

During the ride back to King's Landing, Joffrey is instructed to spend time with Sansa. He takes her riding, and they eventually come across Sansa's sister, Arya Stark, sparring with a butcher's boy. Joffrey challenges the butcher's boy and starts to hurt him, but is attacked by Arya and her direwolf, Nymeria. Arya throws Joffrey's sword, Lion's Tooth, into the Trident.

Joffrey then lies about the instance, claiming that Arya and Mycah, the butcher's boy, had attacked him with clubs. Robert orders the death of one direwolf for the crime, and Eddard Stark is forced into executing Sansa's direwolf, Lady.